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Abstract:

Adjustable mounting apparatus for securing electrical connectors and
equipment to powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, all terrain
vehicles and snowmobiles. These mounting brackets are low cost, compact
and lightweight. The brackets install easily without the use of fasteners
and are adjustable without the use of tools or modification allowing them
to conform to surfaces that may be flat, curved or fully round.

Claims:

1. An adjustable mounting bracket comprising:a centrally positioned saddle
element integrally attached to a centrally positioned mounting base by
means of an integral stalk with a plurality of moveable mounting elements
secured at opposing ends to said central mounting base so that said
mounting bracket may be adjusted to conform to surfaces of a variety of
shapes.

3. The adjustable mounting bracket of claim 1 wherein said saddle element
may include a combination of raised rib elements and grooves in order to
provide enhanced locating capability for the mounted item and the
fastening components.

4. A multi-adjustable mounting bracket wherein a separable saddle element
is able to rotate with respect to a separable central mounting base
comprising:said separable saddle element wherein said means of rotation
is comprised of a integrally formed pivot boss, detent elements and
centrally located fastener hole; a separable mounting base comprised of
centrally located mounting base, an integrally formed pivot socket,
detent elements and a plurality of moveable mounting elements secured at
opposing ends to said separable central mounting base so that said
mounting bracket may be adjusted to conform to surfaces of a variety of
shapes.

6. The multi-adjustable mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein said separable
saddle element may include a combination of raised rib elements and
grooves in order to provide enhanced locating capability for the mounted
item and the fastening components.

9. The multi-adjustable mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the separable
saddle element and separable mounting base are secured to each other with
a rivet or threaded fastener.

10. The multi-adjustable mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the separable
saddle element and separable mounting base are secured to each other by
means of heat staking.

11. The adjustable mounting bracket of claim 1 and the multi-adjustable
mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the components are comprised of a
resilient plastic.

12. The adjustable mounting bracket of claim 1 and the multi-adjustable
mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the components are comprised of
synthetic rubber.

13. The adjustable mounting bracket of claim 1 and the multi-adjustable
mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the components are comprised of a
malleable metal.

14. The adjustable mounting bracket of claim 1 and the multi-adjustable
mounting bracket of claim 4 wherein the components are comprised of
composite.

Description:

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001]This invention relates to electrical component mounting methods for
motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other vehicle commonly
referred to as powersports vehicles and also but not limited to other
special purpose vehicle such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002]Owners and users of motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles,
commonly called powersports vehicles and other special purpose vehicles
such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs are frequently modified from
their original equipment manufactured configuration to add a variety of
accessories that enhance the vehicle capability and the operator's
experience. These added accessories may be roughly divided into three
categories: low power up to 2 amp or 20 watts, medium power of 2 to 5
amps or 20 to 60 watts and high power of 6 amps or 80 watts and greater.
Examples of low power accessories may include navigation systems such as
global positioning systems, cell phones, entertainment systems, radar
detectors, intra-vehicle rider to passenger communication systems,
inter-vehicle short range communication systems, personal digital
assistants and small computers. Medium power accessories may include
on-road auxiliary lighting and single articles of heated clothing. High
power devices may include high intensity off-road lighting, external
battery chargers and multiple articles of heated clothing

[0003]A search of available vehicle accessories shows that there exist
many more types of low power accessories than medium or high power
accessories. Moreover, low power accessories are commonly able to be
easily removed from the vehicle for personal use. For example a cell
phone is normally carried on the person but can be mounted in a quick
detach cradle on a vehicle for hands-free use. High power accessories are
more commonly attached more permanently on the vehicle. For example high
power off road lights must be mounted rigidly to ensure proper beam
aiming and require special purpose wiring capable of carrying high
current.

[0004]In spite of the fact that most accessories fall into the low power
category, the availability of compact low power connectors with
convenient vehicle mounting methods with quick detach capability
non-existent in the market.

[0005]The primary object of this invention is to provide the owners and
users of powersports vehicles and specialty vehicles compact,
lightweight, easy to install mounting methods that allow the utilization
of compact low power connectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006]To achieve the above objectives, and in accordance with the purpose
of the invention broadly described herein to provide simple mounting
brackets for compact low power connectors that are easily adjustable to a
variety of vehicle surfaces. The mounting brackets described herein
comprising: a base member of generally flat surface with flexible members
at either end that allow the device to conform to surfaces that may be
flat, curved or fully round.

[0007]The mounting bracket may have either an integral part for securing a
connector or a separate securing part that may be adjusted to provide
optimized cable routing angles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1a shows an embodiment of a mounting bracket for an electrical
connector comprising a mounting plate and integral coaxial barrel jack
support element. This view shows the bracket in a flat configuration for
mounting on a flat surface.

[0009]FIG. 1b shows a view of the mounting side of said mounting bracket
shown in FIG. 1a.

[0011]FIGS. 3a and 3b show an embodiment of an adjustable angle mounting
bracket wherein the mounting plate and support for the coaxial barrel
jack are constructed as separate parts joined by a single fastener. The
two parts have mating male and female features with cylindrical indexing
detent protuberances and cavities that allow the support part to be
rotated to various angles for optimized electrical cable installation and
routing.

[0012]FIGS. 4a and 4b show exploded and assembled views of the adjustable
angle mounting bracket.

[0013]FIGS. 4c through 4e show the adjustable angle mounting bracket with
the coaxial barrel support positioned at varying angles.

[0014]FIGS. 5a and 5b show a variation of the adjustable angle mounting
bracket wherein the adjustment detents are radial concave and convex
features rather than cylindrical.

[0015]FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the adjustable angle mounting
bracket described in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

[0016]FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate exploded and assembled views of an
electrical connector fixed to the mounting bracket using two o-rings.

[0017]FIG. 8 illustrates a typical mounting arrangement on a vehicle, in
this case on a round tube such as a handle bar, highway bar or frame
tube. The arrangement shown utilizes o-rings to attach the electrical
connector to the mounting bracket and high strength double stick tape to
secure the assembly to the vehicle.

[0018]FIG. 9 shows an alternate mounting arrangement where the electrical
connector is fixed to the mounting bracket with tie wraps and the
mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle with high strength double stick
tape and tie wraps. This highly robust mounting arrangement would be
advantageous in severe service such as off-road vehicles and ATVs where
the assembly might get struck by brush, rocks or other debris.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019]Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of
the invention as illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0020]FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrates a mounting bracket 80 for mounting an
electrical connector or other small device to a vehicle surface. Said
mounting bracket 80 may be molded preferably from nylon due to its
excellent flexural modulus and chemical resistance and good tensile
strength; however other plastics and resilient materials such as
synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may be used.

[0021]FIG. 1a shows a saddle element 85 shaped as a truncated hollow
cylinder formed to accept the body shape of an electrical connector 100.
Again, shapes other than the truncated hollow cylinder could be utilized
but are not optimum for the application. Said saddle element 85 includes
two radial fixing grooves 84, each located externally at the extreme ends
of the cylinder. Said radial fixing grooves 84 form a natural fixing
ridge 86 at the extreme ends of the saddle element 85. Said fixing ridges
86 and radial fixing grooves 84 locate mounting parts as will be
described in following paragraphs. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1a also
includes two small locating ribs 88 that are radially located around the
extreme ends of the cylinder that enhance the longitudinal location of an
installed electrical connector 100. A mounting stalk 89 joins the saddle
element 85 to a central mounting element 81.

[0022]Said central mounting element 81 is curved across its axial
direction at a radius that fits a common vehicle handle bar or frame
tube. The short longitudinal length of said central mounting element 81
insures that the height of the chord of said central mounting element 81
will fit close enough to a flat surface to provide support.

[0023]Attached to, and integrally molded with this central mounting
element 81 are flat mounting surfaces 82 joined by flexible members 83
commonly called living hinges. The said flexible members 83 provide a
bend plane that allow the flat mounting surface 82 to be bent over a
curved surface as will be described in the following paragraph. Said flat
mounting surface 82 and flexible members 83 are mirrored about the axis
of central mounting element 81 to give a total of four flexible elements
much like a chain. This configuration of four flexible members 83 appears
to be the optimum for flexibility for the overall part size, however any
configuration with two or more flexible members 83 are possible. Small
rounded linear fixing ribs 87 are located at the edges of each flexible
member 83 to assist locating a mounting part as will be described in
following paragraphs.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows the mounting bracket 80 bent at its flexible members 83
to form a circular shape. It follows that by bending the flexible members
83 of the mounting bracket 80 at different angles just about any surface
shape can be accommodated from flat to gently curved such as a fuel tank
or fairing, to a circle so tight as to cause the ends of the flat
mounting surface 82 to touch.

[0025]FIGS. 3a and 3b show a two part mounting bracket that serves the
same purpose as mounting bracket 80 but with an added feature that allows
the encapsulated barrel jack to be aligned in multiple positions for
enhanced cable routing.

[0026]FIG. 3a illustrates the barrel support 105 that includes the saddle
element 85, fixing ridge 86, two radial fixing grooves 84, two locating
ribs 88 that combine to provide support for an electrical connector 100.
In place of the mounting plate parts, the barrel support 105 includes an
axial pivot boss 109 preferably integrally molded to the barrel support
105 that protrudes from the convex side of said barrel support 105. Said
axial pivot boss includes an indexing element 106, shown in this
embodiment as a multi-sided star with rounded points. This embodiment is
but one of many configurations with as few as four and as many as ten or
more points that may be utilized to accomplish the indexing functions. As
can be readily seen, the more points included in the configuration the
finer the indexing angle possible. Said pivot boss includes a locating
boss 108 that serves both as centering device and also as a hard stop for
the mated parts that prevents the fastener from exerting excessive
clamping force and thus preventing the rotation of the two parts with
respect to each other. A central hole 107 with used for securing the
barrel support 105 to its mating part which is further described in the
following paragraphs.

[0027]FIG. 3b illustrates a support plate 110 that includes the central
mounting element 81, flat mounting surfaces 82, and flexible members 83.
Said support plate 110 includes an axial pivot cavity 101 preferably
molded integrally on the convex side of the support plate 110. Said axial
pivot cavity 101 includes a cavity indexing element 102 shown in this
embodiment as a multi-pointed star with rounded points so as to mate with
the indexing element 106 of the barrel support 105. Four spring slots 114
allow the walls of the axial pivot cavity 101 to distort outward when the
barrel support 105 is rotated and thus acting like detent springs. Said
axial pivot cavity 101 includes a central plate mounting hole 103 used
for securing the support plate 110 to the barrel support 105.

[0028]FIG. 4a shows and exploded view of barrel support 105 and support
plate 110 affixed with rivet 104.

[0029]FIGS. 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e show the barrel support 105 and support
plate 110 assembled in four of the many positions possible with the
indexing features 102 and 106.

[0030]FIG. 5a shows a barrel mount 125 of an embodiment of an adjustable
mounting bracket includes the common bracket elements: saddle element 85,
fixing ridge 86, two radial fixing grooves 84, two locating ribs 88 that
combine to provide support for an electrical connector 100. In place of
the mounting plate parts, the barrel support 125 includes a radial pivot
boss 129 preferably integrally molded to the barrel support 125 that
protrudes from the convex side of said barrel support 125. Said radial
pivot boss includes a plurality of indexing dots 126, shown in this
embodiment as radially positioned convex protrusions. Said radial pivot
boss includes a radial locating boss 128 that serves both as centering
device and also as a hard stop for the mated parts that prevents the
fastener from exerting excessive clamping force and thus preventing the
rotation of the two parts with respect to each other. A radial boss
central hole 127 used for securing the barrel support 125 to its mating
part which is further described in the following paragraphs.

[0031]FIG. 5b illustrates a radial indexing support plate 120 that
includes the central mounting element 81, flat mounting surface 82, and
flexible members 83. Said radial indexing support plate 120 includes a
radial pivot surface 121 preferably molded integrally on the convex side
of the radial indexing support plate 120. Said radial pivot surface 121
includes a plurality of recessed indexing cavities 122 shown in this
embodiment as concave depressions so as to mate with the indexing dots
126 of the barrel support 125. Inherent flexibility of the plastic parts
allows the barrel support 105 to rotate with respect to the radial
indexing support plate 120. Said radial pivot surface 121 includes an
indexing support plate central hole 123 used for securing the radial
indexing support plate 120 to the barrel support 125.

[0033]FIG. 7a shows and exploded view of one embodiment of the parts that
make up a mounted electrical connector 100. As is shown in this
embodiment, the assembly may be secured by two o-rings 140.

[0034]FIG. 7b shows the assembled view of the above embodiment. This view
shows how the radial fixing grooves 84 of the saddle element 85 along
with the radial grooves 12 of an electrical connector 100 securely
capture the o-rings 140 preventing movement of the electrical connector
100 with respect to the mounting bracket 80.

[0035]FIG. 8 shows the assembly described in FIGS. 7a and 7b as installed
on a non-flat surface. In this case the assembly is mounted on a tube 150
which might be a motorcycle handle bar, a frame tube, roll bar or a body
strut. All of the elements of the assembly are the same as those used on
a flat surface; an electrical connector 100 and mounting bracket 80
secured with two o-rings 140. High performance double stick acrylic tape
141 secures the complete assembly to the vehicle.

[0036]FIG. 9 shows a more robust assembly embodiment wherein the o-rings
140 are replaced by tie-wraps 152 and the high performance double stick
acrylic tape 141 is supplemented by tie-wraps 152. This robust
installation would be applicable in harsh duty environments such as
off-road vehicles where the assembly might be subjected to strikes from
brush and rocks and in the case of a vehicle upset, the earth or packed
snow.

[0037]It is evident from the above description that a wide variety of
connector mounting configurations may be fashioned from the present
invention. Different adjustable mounting brackets may be constructed in a
variety of shapes using different materials to meet the needs of
differing connector types and vehicle fitments. Accordingly, additional
advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the
art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to
the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples
shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be
made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's
general inventive concept.